Button gauge for sewing machines



Aug 7, 1956 M. CERILLQ 2,757,625

- BUTTON GAUGE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 7, 1955 2 SheetS ShEQt 1 FIG. FIG. 2.

- I INVENTOR. MICHAEL CERJLLO M. CERILLO BUTTON GAUGE FOR SEWING MACHINES Aug. 7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1955 INVENTOR. IIICHAEL CERILLO WJJJQM$G United States PatentO BUTTON GAUGE FOR SEWING MACHINES Michael Cerillo, Rahway, N. J.

Application April 7, 1955, Serial No. 499,781

9 Claims. (Cl. 112-104) This invention relates to button gauges for sewing machines, and more particularly to devices of this character for spacing the buttons sewed by industrial sewing machines in the manufacture of shirts, blouses, coats and the like.

Industrial sewing machines for sewing on buttons are provided with a feed plate having an aperture through which the needle passes and which supports the fabric on to which the button is to be sewed. In some machines the feed plate is supported by mechanism having a movement to bring the button and fabric into a number of positions in sequence, depending on the number of holes in each button, with respect to the fixed vertical path of the needle. In other machines the feed plate is stationary, and the needle mechanism moves the needle successively into and through the holes of the button. These motions of the needle mechanism or the feed plate, together with the crowded conditions of other mechanisms adjacent the needle make it difiicult to provide a satisfactory button gauge, without undue complication in construction and diificulty in attachment and operation.

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a button gauge for sewing machines having a moving feed plate or needle mechanism which is simple in construction and operation as well as attachment and replacement on the machine.

In these industrial machines, the feed plate is necessarily clear of the other mechanisms, and for this reason it is another object of the present invention to provide a button gauge which can be substituted for the conventional feed plate.

In the manufacture of shirts of the attached collar type, the attachment of the collar is the last step in the assembly, so that the buttons down the front are sewed on before there is any collar. However, the buttons must be spaced apart the same distance as from the collar button to the next therebelow, which is the first shirt button. Hence the first shirt button must be located with respect to the top of the button stay a shorter distance than that between buttons.

It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a button gauge to engage the top of the button stay to space the first shirt button therefrom the desired distance less than the distance between buttons therebelow.

The first button and the others therebelow should be accurately aligned, and it is another object to provide a gauge to engage the side edge or hemof .the garment, to space the buttons in succession a uniform distance inwardly from such side edge or hem.

The engagement with the back stay and the engagement with the side hem accurately locate the first button, which is sewed in position. After the securing of the first button is completed, the sewed-on button and the fabric can be moved. It is another object to provide a notchto receive the sewed-on buttons in succession, to space therefrom the next buttons therebelow in the row down the front, while being uniformly spaced inwardly from the side edge hem.

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The side hem gauge can be used to engage the front of a barrel cult on the shirt sleeve, and it is another object to provide an end stop to engage the end of a barrel cult, to space the button along the coil? while the side hem gauge spaces it inwardly from the front thereof.

The sewing machine has a feed plate mounting generally provided with four positioning pins and a central stud, and the feed plate generally has five apertures to fit over the mounting and is secured in position by a single nut. This feed plate is substantially square, and has a central needle aperture which is also substantially square.

According to the present invention, the button gauge comprises a gauge plate having a main body portion having a central needle aperture and a side portion extending laterally from said needle aperture, said side portion having apertures for securing gauges to the gauge plate, such as a back guide for engaging the side of a hem, a button stay gauge, a button spacer gauge and a cufi side button gauge. Preferably the gauge plate has a back flange adapted to receive feed plate positioning pins. The back guide, button stay gauge, and cufi side gauge preferably have slotted legs receiving screws for adjustably securing them to the gauge plate. The button stay gauge is preferably a lug upstanding through a slot in the gauge plate aligned with the needle aperture, and adjustably secured by a screw.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan of a button gauge plate according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of the same showing mounted thereon the back guide, the button stay gauge and the button spacer gauge;

Fig. 3 is a similar partial plan showing the back guide and the side gauge for cults;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the button and fabric in operation to position the first front button; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing the operation of spacing the subsequent buttons.

The button gauge plate shown in the drawings comprises a main body portion A having a back flange B adapted to receive the feed plate positioning pins P and securing stud S mounted on a part M of the sewing machine. The main body A extends forwardly from the back flange B and is provided with a central needle aperture N. The plate has right and left side portions R and L extending laterally in opposite directions from the needle aperture N, and back portions C and D extending rearwardly from the side portions on respective sides of the back flange B. The plate A has apertures 10, 12, 14 and 15 in predetermined positions for securing thereto respective gauges for positioning buttons to be sewed.

The apertures 10 are located in the back portions C and D and are adapted to secure the back guide shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which comprises a fiat leg 20 extending rearwardly and provided with a slot 22 which receives one or more screws 23 mounted in the apertures 10. The front end of the leg 20 terminates in an upstanding wall 25 which extends laterally inwardly toward the back flange B.

The apertures 14 are slots in the side portions R and L aligned with the needle aperture N and adapted to receive the button stay gauge shown in Fig. 2 which comprises a lug 27 upstanding through the slot 14 from a base 28 therebelow. A screw 29 passing through the slot 14 into the base 28 retains the lug 27 in laterally slidable adjusted position along the slot 14.

The apertures 12 are adapted to secure a button spacer gauge as shown in Fig. 2 which comprises a flat leg 32 extending laterally on the back portion C and having a slot 34 slidably adjustably receiving screws 35 threaded in the apertures 12. A flange 36 extends upwardly and forwardly from the leg 32 and is spaced above the main body portion A and is provided with a notch 37 in its side away from said needle aperture and laterally aligned therewith.

The apertures are adapted to secure a cuff button side gauge as shown in Fig. 3, comprising a flat leg 40 extending laterally on the side portion C and having a slot 42 slidably adjustably receiving screws 43 threaded in the apertures 15. The cuff side gauge comprises an upstanding wall 44 extending transversely from the end of the leg 40 facing the needle aperture N.

in operation, the back guide is adjusted along the slot 22 to engage the hem H and space the button the desired distance inward therefrom, as shown in Fig. 6, and the screw 23 is tightened to hold the adjustment. The button stay lug 27 is adjusted along the slot 14 to engage the button stay T at the top of the unfinished garment, to space the button the desired distance downward therefrom, and the screw 29 is tightened to hold the adjustment. The button spacer gauge 36 is adjusted along the slot 34 to space the second button the desired distance below the first, as shown in Fig. 7, and the screws 35 tightened to hold the adjustment. Preferably these adjustments are made before attachment to the sewing machine, after which the back flange B is fitted over the feed plate positioning pins P and the stud S on the machine part M, and the plate A is secured in accurate position by a single nut on the stud S.

After the front buttons have been applied, the same or an identical plate A has its back guide adjusted by the screw 23 in the slot 22, so that the wall 25 engages the front of a cuff, to space the button the desired distance back therefrom. Also the cuff button side gauge is adjusted by the screw 43 in the slot 42, so that the wall 44 engages the side of the cuff to space the button the desired distance inward therefrom. The plate is then mounted on the machine by securing the back flange B over the pins P by the nut on the stud S.

While the hem gauge 25, button stay gauge 27, button spacer 37 and cuff side gauge 44 have been shown and described as mounted on the left hand side L. it is to be understood that their apertures 10, 12, 14 and 15 are duplicated in reverse on the right hand side R, and the gauges are selectively supplied in reverse, for adjustment for mens or womens garments as desired.

I claim:

1. In a button gauge for a sewing machine having feed plate positioning means, a gauge plate adapted to be substituted for the sewing machine feed plate, said gauge plate having a back flange adapted to engage the feed plate positioning means, and a main body extending forward from said back flange and having a central needle aperture, said main body also having side portions extending laterally from said needle aperture in opposite directions and back portions extending rearwardiy from said side portions adjacent said back flange, said back portions having apertures for securing thereto a back guide, said side portions having respective slots spaced laterally from said needle aperture on both sides thereof and aligned therewith for receiving a button stay gauge.

2. Button gauge for a sewing machine having feed plate positioning means, comprising a gauge plate adapted to be substituted for the sewing machine feed plate, said gauge plate having a back flange adapted to engage the feed plate positioning means, and a main body extending forward from said back flange and having a central needle aperture, said main body also having a side portion extending laterally from said needle aperture and a back portion extending rearwardly from said side portion adjacent said back flange, a back guide mounted on said gauge plate and comprising a flat leg extending rearwardly and an upstanding wall extending laterally from the front of said leg portion inwardly toward said back flange, and means for securing said flat leg to said back portion for forward and rearward sliding adjustment of said upstanding wall.

3. Button gauge for a sewing machine having feed plate positioning pins, comprising a gauge plate adapted to be substituted for the sewing machine feed plate, said gauge plate having a back flange adapted to receive the feed plate positioning pins, and a main body extending forward from said back flange and having a central needle aperture, said main body also having a side portion extending laterally from said needle aperture and having a slot spaced laterally therefrom and aligned therewith, and a button stay gauge comprising a lug extending upwardly through the slot from a base therebelow, and a screw extending downwardly through the slot and threaded into said base.

4. Button gauge for a sewing machine having feed plate positioning pins, comprising a gauge plate adapted to be substituted for the sewing machine feed plate, said gauge plate having a back flange adapted to receive the feed plate positioning pins, and a main body extending forward from said back flange and having a central needle aperture, said main body also having a side portion extending laterally from said needle aperture and a back portion extending rearwardly from said side portion adjacent said back flange, said back portion having aperture means therein, and a button spacer gauge comprising a flat leg extending laterally on said back portion and secured to said aperture means in laterally slidablc adjustable relation, and a flange extending upwardly and forwardly from said flat leg and spaced above said main body portion and having a notch in its side away from said needle aperture and laterally aligned therewith.

5. Button gauge for a sewing machine having feed plate positioning pins, comprising a gauge plate adapted to be substituted for the sewing machine feed plate, said gauge plate having a back flange adapted to receive the feed plate positioning pins, and a main body extending forward from said back flange and having a central needle aperture, said main body also having a side portion extending laterally from said needle aperture and having aperture means spaced from but aligned therewith, and a cuff button side gauge comprising a fiat leg extending laterally on said side portion and secured to said aperture means in laterally slidable adjustable relation, and an upstanding wall extending transversely from the end of said flat leg toward said needle aperture.

6. Button gauge for a sewing machine comprising a gauge plate having a main body portion having a central needle aperture and a side portion extending laterally from said needle aperture, a back guide mounted on said gauge plate and comprising a flat leg extending rcarwardly and an upstanding wall extending laterally from the front of said leg portion, means for securing said flat leg to said gauge plate for forward and rearward sliding adjustment of said upstanding wall, said side portion of the gauge plate having a slot spaced laterally from said needle aperture and aligned therewith, and a button stay gauge comprising a lug extending upwardly through the slot from a base therebelow, and a screw for retaining said lug in laterally slidable adjusted position in said slot.

7. Button gauge for a sewing machine comprising a gauge plate having a main body portion having a central needle aperture and a side portion extending laterally therefrom, said side portion having a slot aligned with said needle aperture, a button stay gauge comprising a lug extending upwardly through said slot from a base therebelow, a screw for retaining said lug in adjusted position along said slot, and a button spacer gauge comprising a flange extending upwardly and forwardly over said lug and having a notch in its side away from said needle aperture and aligned therewith.

8. Button gauge for a sewing machine comprising a gauge plate having a main body portion having a central needle aperture and a side portion extending laterally from said needle aperture, aback guide mounted on said gauge plate and comprising a flat leg extending rearwardly and an upstanding wall extending laterally from the front of said leg portion, means for securing said flat leg to said gauge plate for forward and rearward sliding adjustment of said upstanding wall, and a cufi? button side gauge comprising a flat leg extending laterally and secured to said side portion of said gauge plate in slidable adjustable relation, and an upstanding wall extending transversely from the end of said flat leg facing said needle aperture.

9. Button gauge for a sewing machine comprising a gauge plate having a main body portion having a central needle aperture and a side portion extending laterally from said needle aperture, a back guide mounted on said gauge plate and comprising an upstanding wall and means for securing said wall to said plate for forward and rearward sliding adjustment, a button stay gauge comprising an upstanding lug and means for securing said lug to said plate for slidable adjustment toward and away from said needle aperture, and a button spacer gauge comprising a flange spaced above said lug and having a notch in its side away from said needle aperture and aligned therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

